Flexible marine messenger-ball



(No Model.)

W. B. SMITH.

FLEXIBLE MARINE MESSENGER BALL.

Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

FLJET' William N PETERS, Phnloumo n har. Wnmugmn. LL'c.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEEICE.

IVILLIAM BENJAMIN SMITH, OF LAVVTEY, FLORIDA FLEXIBLE MARINE MESSENGER- BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,188, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed May 5, 1888. Serial No. 273,263. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known' that I, VVILLIAM BENJAMIN SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawtey, in the county of Bradford and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Marine Messenger-Balls; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this device. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section. Fig. 3 is a detail in section, showing the line secured in a pocket or case attached to the exterior of the ball. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the line and message-receptacle, adapted for the inside pocket of the ball; Fig. 5, details of pocket in the periphery of the ball adapted for messages, writing materials, the.

This invention is intended to afford a very simple and safe means for conveying a line from a vessel in danger or distress to the shore, or to carry messages from a vessel at sea to the shore, and to embody in its structure or equipment means for those who get the ball when it is des'gnedly sent to them by any natural method, as the wind or the motion of the waters, to write out their messages and secure them in the ball; also, means connected with the ball whereby it can be withdrawn to the sender after its contents have been inspected. These ends, and others incidental to them, are accomplished by the construction and combination of the several parts of which the present device is composed, all as will now be more fully set out and explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings the exterior A of the ball is made of any suitable water-proof and flexible material. Rubber will answer a very good purpose; but any other material that will answer the conditions can be used to good advantage. It is preferred that the outer wall or casing should be made of elastic material; but oiled silk or tarred canvas, or any other flexible material that, when inflated, will hold its shape, will answer. Inside this ball, and

preferably across it at the center, as now shown, is a pocket or case, 13, one end, I), of

which is closed and the other provided with straps or strings b. In this case itis designed to place the tube 0 and retain it therein by the straps or strings Z), or any other suitable means which will allow it to be readily inserted and secured, or to be withdrawn when occasion requires. This tube C is made in two partsviz., the line-compartment c and the message-compartment c. The two are secured together by screw-thread, by springconnection, by a pin passed through their overlapping edges at the point of juncture, or in any desirable way, but so as to be readily detached each from the other when necessary. The message-compartment c of tube C will contain a supply of oiled paper and indelible pencils.

In the line-receptacle any strong cord, 0 preferably linen or hemp, is placed in a ball, coil, or 011 a reel, so as to have the greatest possible length packed therein. The outer end is filled by a removable cap, 0 having a hole, 0', in it, through which an end of the cord passes. The message-receptacle has its socket end 0 adapted to form its connection with the cord-receptacle part of the tube, and is also closed wafer-tight at that end. At the other it has a screw-cap, c, or equivalent means for closingitwater-tight. Under some circumstances of the wind, weather, or temperature it may be desirable not to use this cord-receptacle, and in such instances a supplemental cord-receptacle, D, can be secured to the outside of ball A. This receptacle is like the other one, only smaller. The recepfacle D has straps or strings or like means to secure this cord or line therein.

For the purpose of carrying a simple and indestructi ble message, there is a close-fitting outside pocket, E, on case or ball A, not water-tight, but closed by a lacing-cord or other suitable fastening. This pocket E is supplied with thin sheets of soft metal, lead, copper, or other suitable material and stylus for forming letters on the same. This material makes it practicable to write an indestructible mes sage, even though the hand and message sheet were both submerged, and will add no perceptible weight to the ball.

If desired, a scentpocket, F, may be also provided in the exterior of the case or ball, and luminous signs or other signals may be applied to the ball, as at G. The ball, which, otherwise than the longitudinal pocket B, is empty, can be inflated with air through the nozzle H, which is there covered with a screw-cap, e, and thus put into rotund shape for use.

It may be desirable sometimes to put writing materials in the message-compartment c of the central tubular case, or when a very long message is to be sent the entire case can be made water-tight and the written message placed in it. In this instance also theline can be carried in the outer pocket, D, as has been above described. hen the ball has been inflated on shipboard, and the written messages duly placed inside, and the end of the cord or line made fast on shipboard, it is flung overboard. The ball is now urged on over the tops of the waves by the action of the wind chiefly, or by the tide, or by both, and when it reaches land the person who finds it can inspect the message and either send one back or else attach a large line to the line carried by the ball. This larger line being now hauled on shipboard may be used to aid the ships people in getting to land.

The luminous sign or symbol on the exterior of the ball will attract attention at night. The scent placed in the open case in the exterior of the ball will help to give notice by night or by day of the approach of the ball.

The ball, when ready for use, is very light, and will by natural causes, as above set out, be impelled quite rapidly over the water. The cost of the structure, with all the detail named above, is not large, nor is any special skill required in its manufacture or use. It is a simple, cheap, and ready means for accomplishing the very important ends for which it is designed.

I11 this application my invention is confined to a flexible case. In my application, Serial No.

206,090, filed June 2A, 1886, I have shown how the main ideas now described can be utilized in a rigid ball or case.

Having now described my invention, what- I consider new, and desire to claim, is-

1. In combination with a flexible marine messenger-ball having internally and centrally across it a pocket or case, a combined line and water-proof message-receptacle secured within said case, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a flexible marine messenger-ball, a removable line and messagereceptacle, 0, made in two parts, the one for the line and the other secured upon the first, so as to be waterproof, and provided with a removable cap, whereby the message can be placed within the tube or removed from it.-

A flexible marine messenger-ball adapted to be inflated and having an internal pocket or case, and externally receptacles for scent, and illuminated signs, combined with a receptacle for the message and a line placed within said internal pocket, substantially as shown and described.

4:. A flexible marine messenger-ball adapted to be inflated, having an internal case and an air-tight message-receptacle therein, and an incased line for connecting with the sender, and whereby it can be retracted at will, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

\VILLIAM BENJAMIN SMITH.

IVitnesses:

A. W. NIcHoLs, W. O. ABBOTT. 

